I'm completely bothered and baffled by the fact that someone with such an overt and obvious agenda can have such a prominent vehicle to display his witch hunt "reporting." And where is his editor? The Post really doesn't have to go far to lose any more credibility it might have tried to gain back after last year's mishaps. I don't see any difference between the Post and the Washington Times at this point.

if only this site had been around when that Whitewater crap was whipped up into a faux scandal.

Think about: this is more or less EXACTLY what Whitewater was all about: a real estate deal where a well-known Democratic couple lost money... only there weren't bloggers and indy media around with a megaphone to yell BULLSHIT.

Note to Solomon and other lazy reporters: we won't let you get away with that crap again, ever.

Isn't it clear? All the Obama/Osama mix-ups, and now this? Isn't it obvious?

I see Hillary's nefararious hand in all of this. Of course. It's the only explanation, since Republicans would never engage in such preemptive tactics.

It's only going to get uglier. We've got 22 months of this to go.

The questions are: who is putting Solomon up to these hit pieces? Who's feeding him the information? Is he benefitting monetarily (outside his normal salary) in return for writing these stories?

The real issue here is not Solomon, it's the WaPo's editors. I'm sure there are plenty of crappy stories that get written, but they don't all get published on the front page, in fully uncrappified form. Solomon, after all, is just a reporter. They don't have to run his stories.

As someone who works in the real estate industry in the DC Metro area I can say the only real "news" here is that something priced over $5 million actually sold, considering market conditions.

Further, the Klaussens actually own a decent amount of property in the area, including a 10 acre estate in Mclean which has an assessed value over $6 Million, so their activity in the real estate market isn't suprising either.

It really is a shame that a paper with the reputation of the Washington Post would hire a reporter with such a clear record of distortion to make headlines.

Mary asks:

And where is his editor?

Perhaps they brought Ben Domenech back to serve as his editor. /snark

The link that should go to Solomon's questionable history just goes to TPM.

I like the bit about how "edwards has run into controversy before over selling a house...." As if there really was "controversy" here. I love how reporters gin up a "controversy" where none exists, then treat that "controversy" as a fact. The only person who claims this is controversial is "star hire" Solomon. Tell me again why we are supposed to be in awe of the work newspapers do?

Hello...Greg? Josh Marshall?

Why are we putting all this on Solomon, and nothing, nothing, on Lois Romano who is the co-author?

Am I wrong about this???

What does Deborah Howell (ombudsman@washpost.com) have to say? The Post really can't plausibly claim to be taken by surprise on this given Solomon's prior history.

Before the Duke Cunningham house sale as bribe, no one was looking at house sales. Now, reporters look at house sales. Presidential candidates especially can expect to see a story in the news if they sell their house. The angle on this one is the price tag, really, for a candidate who has been nagging the country about poverty for 4 years. Doesn't he also have a $3 million North Carolina beach house? And wouldn't that mean he's probably got another multi-million dollar permanent year round residence?

If any of us went around lecturing our families and friends about how terrible, terrible, terrible it is that there are poor people in America and we were driving Jaguars, we'd get called out for it. Why is it a different standard for John Edwards?

eric asks:

Why are we putting all this on Solomon, and nothing, nothing, on Lois Romano who is the co-author?

That's a valid point, though note that Solomon is the senior author as is clearly flagged by Romano's name appearing out of alphabetical order.

John Solomon was not hired in spite of his fabrications on Reid, but because of them. They put this on the front page because this is the kind of story the WP wants Solomon to write for them.

In journalism, as in the White House, you fail upward, and presenting the facts get you shown the door. The facts, after all, are not the conservatives' friend.

Mr. Solomon has chosen to ignore his college tutor's advice: "Put your brain in motion before you put your mouth in gear." Essential, if unoriginal, advice for every freshman. Mr. Solomon has done a Rove. He implies a nefarious business relationship between Edwards and a rich purchaser of his Georgetown mansion. (Redundant, I know; few average income earners could buy a studio in Metro DC.) Mr. Solomon is careful to disclose, however, that Mr. Edwards sold it for 20% less than his asking price, after 18 months on the market, after making substantial improvements to the property. Any local WaPo reader would know that the percentage appreciation on Mr. Edwards mansion is in line with the market in the 2002-2006 period.

The average or non-local reader or Limbaugh afficianado remembers a nefarious notion, while a careful reader easily sidesteps Mr. Solomon's literary IED. The Rove gang, to which Mr. Solomon belongs or to which he aspires, is best at smearing opponents with its own worst behavior. So, as Josh suggested at the beginning, what Metro DC, or coastal MD, real estate deals should we really be paying attention to?

Mr. Rove electioneers 24/7. Solomon's little contribution reminds us that 2008 promises to be the dirtiest campaign since Octavius and Marc Antony vied for Rome.

Liz writes (trollishly in my view):

If any of us went around lecturing our families and friends about how terrible, terrible, terrible it is that there are poor people in America and we were driving Jaguars, we'd get called out for it. Why is it a different standard for John Edwards?

I don't get it. Isn't it more natural to call out rich people who argue that we need tax cuts for the rich? When a rich person argues that we need to help the poor, they are arguing against their own self interest.

Oh, Liz, get a life! I DON'T CARE how many homes the Edwardses own. SO WHAT? Now, I would care if they weren't paying the taxes on their homes. Look, Edwards earned his money, defending people who were getting screwed by corporations. If you have a problem with that, fine. I, on the other hand, don't. It's his money, he can spend it any way he wants to, and he can live wherever, and however he chooses. And if he manages to sell his house in DC's crappy market, more power to him. He sold it, as a private citizen, FOR LESS THAN THE ASKING PRICE.

Yes, it is incumbent upon everyone who feels that it is "terrible, terrible...that there are poor people in America" to take a vow of poverty and give away all of their earthly possessions. Anything less would be hypocrisy, pure and simple.

Sorry, but I want to be scrupulous about having the same standards. I call out Bush and Lieberman and whoever for not encouraging their own children to join the military. They should be making the case to their own children that a war they send others to die for is worth their own children's lives. But they're not.

Likewise, you can't own multimillion dollar houses and pretend to be really upset about poverty. I sure couldn't do that. I can't pretend to be really upset about poverty having bought a set of china egg cups on ebay this morning. I guess its a question of personal integrity and honesty and IMO, says something most people would find important to consider about Edwards.

Think what would they do if Dem ticket for 08 is "Obama-Biden".

Ah, the irony. Near the top of the story, Solomon and Romano write:

Edwards's spokeswoman told reporters that the house had been sold to an unidentified corporation. In reality, the buyers were Paul and Terry Klaassen, according to several sources and confirmed by Edwards's spokeswoman yesterday.

Despite Solomon's snarky "In reality", several paragraphs further down we read that it was indeed technically sold to a corporation:

[P]ublic deed documents ... show that the buyer was P Street LLC. That limited-liability corporation was created Dec. 22, public records show. Palmieri said the Klaassens used it to purchase the house. Such corporations are frequently created by large real estate buyers to protect themselves from lawsuits by shielding buyers' other personal assets.

So in this article, Solomon thinks there is no real difference between an LLC and its owner. But of course the purported scandal in the Reid case turned on precisely this distinction. There Solomon thought the distinction was so critical that he used it to justify describing Reid's entire sale price (not just his profit) as a "windfall". I would love to see Solomon try to square that circle.

I agree very tangentially with Liz - part of the motivation for Solomon's piece is probably to take the opportunity to point out that Edwards, who is positioning himself as a populist and champion of the poor, can nonetheless afford to have a $5 piece of real estate sitting on the market for an extended period of time. To make this non-news appear to be news, he applies smoke and mirrors to the fact that Edwards sold it to less-than savory characters who allegedly wronged people that he's seeking as allies.

Because there are lots of rich people in Washington, that fact alone doesn't get you on the front page. As Crust points outs, there are many more rich Republicans working very hard in their self-interest and the interests of their patrons than their are rich people like Edwards who are working to help people whose economic standing doesn't match their own.

This is a stupid non-story.

Gee, Liz...better make sure you refuse to accept your Social Security payments when you become eligible. After all, it was a multi-millionaire who decided that the elderly poor may need a support program in their golden years.

Maybe I'm wrong, but if John Edwards lists his house on the market and someone makes an offer on it, he can't refuse to sell it to them based on their opposition to his politics. You can't pick and choose, can you? Not with a public listing.

My guess is that the intent of the hit piece is not to "catch" Edwards in some wrongdoing; rather it's a matter of trying to show Edwards as a cynical bastard who's really in bed with the anti-union crowd, and is merely trying to gain favor with the unions for political advantage.

In that light, it wouldn't matter if Soloman fact-checked the story to see who might be upset about the deal, nor would the fact that there's nothing wrong the deal itself.

The eventual spin will be that Edwards is trying to curry favor with _both_ sides. Hence the low sales price on the home, and Edwards mysterious failure to confer with the unions before signing the deal

It's purely an image framing piece. In six months, Soloman (and others) can point back to the "controversial nature" of the deal, and openly question Edwards "alleged" commitment to the unions.

Out here in the reality-based community, this is a non-story. In the "all spin, all the time" zone, every breath Edwards (or Hillary or Pelosi or Obama or ) takes is for 100% political gain.

This is in the same class as the infamous "airport runway haircut" story of years ago. A non-story that's thrown out to spread a little dirt on the subject.

folks this is an annualized 8% return.. the dumbass writer never mentions that this is probably not remarkable in the DC market between 2002 and 2006...

This needs tracked back to the GOP operative who handed Solomon the story.

Solomon is well known as a lazy hack who likes his stories handed to him from GOP operatives so he doesn't have to do any real work.

Any guesses?

Likewise, you can't own multimillion dollar houses and pretend to be really upset about poverty.

Sorry, but did the middle of this sentence get dropped? Because the end does not logically follow the beginning.

Or are you saying only poor people can honestly care about poverty. If that's true, God help the poor because no one else will.

Another thing that seems to be getting overlooked: it's not like the buyers of Edwards' house, as far as I know, are well-known as being aggressively anti-union a la WalMart. The dispute between the Klaassens and the unions is based on the unions' pension fund investments in the the Klaassens' company's stock. Any investor who owns that company's stock may well feel the Klaassens violated their fiduciary duty. This really doesn't go the the heart of worker and union rights.

If any of us went around lecturing our families and friends about how terrible, terrible, terrible it is that there are poor people in America and we were driving Jaguars, we'd get called out for it. Why is it a different standard for John Edwards?

If you're not actually doing anything to help the poor, then you might feel some pang about it. Or, if you were a Republican, you could get self-righteously angry about the poor's unwillingness to become unpoor, like them.

But no, Liz, there is no equivalency between:
- sending people's kids off to die certain that yours won't be getting involved in combat
- becoming wealthy, while working diligently in the interest of those not as well off as you are.

What point are you trying to make? That Edwards ought to deliberately make himself poor if he's going to work on their behalf?

For what it's worth, at least the guy worked for his success, and helped a lot of folks gain some measure of justice on the way.

Good work as usual, Greg. Given that we're so far from the election, the only loss of credibility from this article will likely be Solomon's, but that only happens as a consequence of hard work by folks like you.

Wealth is not the issue, any more than ascetism brings holiness, rather than a respite from conflict and excess. The issue is what you do with wealth, and what you retreat from ascetism and rejoin society. The answer is always mixed.

Mr. Carnegie gave us his libraries; he also gave us the Homestead strike. Mr. Rockefeller gave us the Ludlow miners strike, and the machine-gunning of workers and families; his children gave us the Rockefeller Foundation. Henry Ford gave millions what were then the highest wages in industrial America; he also gave enormous publicity to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Mr. Edwards made millions holding corporations liable for their wrongful acts against customers, workers and communities. His politics may give us hope, and give us back the Constitution. Comparable work by Mr. Libby's lawyers may give us more Scooter Libby. Take your pick.

I should have put it as a question:

If any of us constantly lectured family and friends about poverty in the US for 4 years and we drove a brand new Jaguar, what would we expect the reaction to be? You don't no ANYONE who wouldn't tell you to your face that you're full of it.

Why should it be different for John Edwards?

Lazy reporting,right or left wing agenda,
MSM/corporate conspiracy; I suppose all these things(and more) are possible, but I lean toward
the theory that whatever sells the most shampoo,is what runs. An aquaintance had a job selling ad-space in a local weekly. He referred to the stories and articles as filler; what went in after they laid out the ads.
Any winks or nods that occur between the major players,are likely thinking about circulation numbers.
If Edwards becomes a break-away in this race (I hope)
everyone sells alot less Head&Shoulders.
I was blissfully ignorant of politics when the grown-ups were in charge. Now I can't get enough news.

I think the media could have stopped the war-mongering cold, but that wouldn't have been in their interest.

Liz: Same standards? You aren't even in the right ballpark.

"...a war they send others to die for is worth their own children's lives."

First, children don't join our military. Sons and daughters do.

Second, you don't join to die for your country. You join to serve.

And there is no "likewise" here between serving your country in the military, selling a home, and being "upset about poverty". I think you may have meant concerned, but its hard to tell because your logic is so messed up. You, and people like you are a huge reason why America is so inept. Stop thinking you have any answers to anything and try to learn basic thinking skills.

chiggins,
the point I'm making is that John Edwards is an opportunist (just as he is on the war; the guy was the CO SPONSOR of the IWR and he was on the Intelligence Committee and knew Bush was lying).

He's an opportunist on this poverty business, too. He thinks he's got something that will get him votes from black voters, primarily, and from some who think he wants to take the money from the rich and give it to the poor.

ww,
OK, you keep on bending over backwards to pretend a guy with at least 2 multimillion dollar houses is sincere about "poverty." You probably have some shares in the Brooklyn Bridge, too.

Conservatives want to make it hypocritical for rich people to care about the less fortunate, like it's some kind of character flaw if you aren't just out for fellow rich people. In conservative land, I suppose that's true, but us liberals don't care if you're rich. The fact that you can still become rich, and not be a total cynical, self-serving, money grubbing bastard gives us a little hope.

And if the rich can't consider the interests of the non-rich without getting attacked, who is supposed to look out for the other 95 percent? Are only poor people allowed to run for office, now, if they want to do something for the nation? Or is it the duty of the Washington elite to only look out for themselves?

Liz - are you John Solomon?

Wikipedia "Franklin Delano Roosevelt" - he was brought up in an atmosphere of priviledge - was loaded and created the best anti-poverty program of all time "social security" to keep old people from eating dog food.

I guess Edwards should bankrupt himself to get your support?

Democrats like to be rich enough to pay taxes, not poor enough to need handouts.

"Mr. Edwards made millions holding corporations liable for their wrongful acts against customers, workers and communities. His politics may give us hope, and give us back the Constitution. Comparable work by Mr. Libby's lawyers may give us more Scooter Libby. Take your pick."

To be fair to Paul, Weiss, I should also have said that while Scooter's lawyers may give us more of Scooter, they help Guantanamo prisoners assert rights Mr. Cheney says they don't have. Just as the NY Times gives us Paul Krugman -- and David Brooks. Mr. Bush famously said during a 2004 debate, he couldn't remember a single mistake he'd made. Comparably, I can't remember anything on the credit side for his or Mr. Cheney's ledgers. The debit side is so long, the books wouldn't balance, anyway.

OK, you keep on bending over backwards to pretend a guy with at least 2 multimillion dollar houses is sincere about "poverty." You probably have some shares in the Brooklyn Bridge, too.--Liz

Exactly how large does my salary have to be before you require me to support the Republican party?

Solomon's lame-o article also overlooks a prime point of real estate law.

Assume that, like many (most) other busy people, the Edwardses used a broker to sell their house. It's a safe assumption which appears true, to boot.

In most jurisdictions, and I have no reason to doubt DC is one, the broker's duty is to seek out and find a buyer who is ready, willing and able to close on the transaction. The broker is entitled to a commission upon producing such a buyer - ready, willing and able to close. Doesn't matter who they are, as long as they show up at the right place and time with the right amount of money.

If the Edwardses would have failed to close with such a buyer (i.e., one who showed up at the appointed time and place with the money), they would owe their broker the broker's commission (generally, 6% of the sale price) regardless (in fact, in spite) of the fact they'd failed to close.

6% of $1 mil is, BTW, $60k. On this sale, you do the math.

To put it in hypothetical terms: If Hillary and Bill wanted to sell their house, and their broker produced Ken Starr or Lucianne Goldberg ready, willing and able to close (i.e., at the appointed time and place with the right amount of money), Bill and Hill could either (a) move out, sign the deed and take the check, or (b) write a check to the broker for the commission
and try to find another buyer. And that's assuming Ken or Lucianne didn't really want the house and (a) go to court for "specific performance", i.e., an injunction forcing Bill and Hill to go through with the deal (which is another issue entirely), and (b) tie up the title with a lis pendens (or notice of pendency) which would scotch any further deal until Ken or Lucianne's suit was resolved.

If the house sold a bit below the listing price or "ask", that's just a symptom of a softening real estate market, an "ask" set too high, or
a seller who wants to move the property after waiting too long (for the seller's taste). FWIW, in the last 3 months, I've seen the "ask" on similar (cookie-cutter) condos in the area I live drop by between 10% and 15%. A drop in sales price is no surprise, and no issue.

Right now is a good time to be a buyer of real estate.

And, FWIW, many prominent people do not do their real estate business in their own names, instead using shell corps., if only to fend off people trolling the real estate filings to find out which apartment in the 100 unit building they live in. It's like one of the steps of knowing you're famous, that you have to do that.

Liz, Let's ask you a question then. How poor would Edwards have to make himself in order to not be considered "full of it"? What's the hypocrisy line? A half-million dollar house and a Buick? A bungalow and a Kia? A shack and a bicycle? How poor does a person have to make him/herself in order to qualify to express concern about poverty?

Liz, you've got a pretty twisted view of the world if that's what you think of people who want to help those who are not as lucky as they are. At least John Edwards is talking about poverty, in a way that Americans haven't heard in decades. All I hear from George Bush is that I should go shopping.

Before the Duke Cunningham house sale as bribe, no one was looking at house sales. Now, reporters look at house sales. Presidential candidates especially can expect to see a story in the news if they sell their house.

The reporter looked into the Dukester's house because it was a multi-million dollar house and there was no way he could(honestly) afford it. That's not the case here. I'm sure this is a case of a lazy-ass reporter being fed some (meaningless) oppo research and then (maybe) re-typing it. I wonder if the publishers of the post care that their newspaper is being used in this way?

Liz,

Are you saying that only the poor should help the poor? Or are you saying that rather than trying to help the poor through the practice of law and politics, Edwards should simply give all his wealth to charity? I really can't figure out where you're going with this.

John Edwards is in a very small group of Americans who are pro-union and have a $5,000,000 house on the market. Since there is unlikely to be a politically accepted buyer, he should have removed the insurance and burned it to the ground. Then both Liz and Solomon would be satisfied presumably.

Good grief. Tempest in an eggcup.

I never felt once that Edwards was lecturing me about poverty and I am not poor. Should I wonder if I have too much money to be morally allowed to vote for him? No, on second thought I think I will and see if I still get into heaven.

Liz --

You'd better balance that machine before you try to spin the load you're doing here. John Edwards argues passionately and persuasively for a better opportunity for the less fortunate. That's hardly equivalent to your characterization of a person who "constantly lectured family and friends about poverty."

Yeah, we get your point. We know what inspired it. And we are all, generally speaking, telling you it isn't interesting, isn't valid, and is becoming a bigger stink as you vainly try to stir it into meaningfulness. Let it go. Better luck next time.

Because, Liz, Edwards doesn't merely drive around in his Jaguar, "lecturing people about poverty," while not doing anything about it. His career as a lawyer was geared toward that; he used his leglistative position to gain attention for reducing poverty; and he has set up a legal research / aid clinic, staffed with volunteers (using his money and the money he has raised) to address the issue of poverty in this country.

The phenomenon you are projecting is conservative hypocricy and sanctimony, not Edwards'.

Folks, Liz is a troll. Let's not let her/his (I think sowhat asked a good question above) "contributions" dominate this discussion.

great catch by Crust at 3:30. I hope that's brought to Ms. Howell's attention as well.

Ryan,
You didn't answer my question. What would your family and friends say if you nagged them about poverty for 4 years and went out and bought yourself a Jaguar?

Right wing hit pieces aren't interested in presenting a factual argument to the table, or the free presentation / exchange of ideas. They are entirely about creating doubt, while at the same time claiming "Rathergate" and "slightly-more-smoke-gate" as major coups in the war against the horrible "bias" found in all forms of media that don't goose-step to the party line 99 out of 100 of them absolutely "knows" is absolutely correct. Things like details, facts, and reality do not matter, because ultimately they are "right;" they just have to be.

So, since everyone knows that Edwards is a hypocritical, sanctimonious asshole who only cares about the poor to the extent that they help his political career, any story that purports to echo this sentiment, must necessarily be factually "accurate," even though, as in this case, the "facts" of the story hardly support the conclusion they've already drawn.

To the right wingers this story merely confirms what Rush Limbaugh told them already,

Crust,
no I am not a troll. And the reason my view is dominating the thread is that its common sense. Its the way the 95% of voters who don't comment on TPM or dailykos or atrios (all sites that I like very much and commenters are mostly people I like) would see John Edwards.

He picks up Clinton vintage '92, "describing" problems. He was rabidly for the Iraq war and now he's dumping on other Democrats for not being against it enough. I think Edwards is a transparent opportunist.

Hypocrisy and empathy seem very much the issues.

Mr. Bush has no empathy; Mr. Cheney has it only for those he wants to be like and among, and none for anyone who might compete with him. He is the secretive would be alpha male who will only fight in the bureaucratic dark. Both men have built a government out of hypocrisy; their honesty is a trait not yet achieved, one which they feel is not only unnecessary, but prejudicial to "good" government.

Mr. Edwards made millions from his own work - ordinarily, a Republican erotic dream, if only for its rarity in fact. In the Right's view, however, only lawyers working for them should make millions. In Mr. Bush's tradition, lawyers are just hired help, anyway. Like the gardner, they keep the pests away.

Worse, like FDR and the millionaire Jimmy Carter, Mr. Edwards appears to have legitimate empathy for the 98% of Americans who have not benefited from Mr. Bush's tax and budget cuts. His wealth gives him the power to attack their wealth and spending priorities. Priorities that are vulnerable with this new Congress.

Mr. Solomon is a local attack dog. Mr. Rove has lots of them. This Congress might just be hiring a few good dog catchers.

Other posters have touched on this gimmick:
Manufacture a "controversy" -- a word which through years of misuse -- has come to imply that something sinister or suspicious is afoot even when nothing is wrong. It originally meant that some issue was the subject of debate. It is now used as a pejorative. Then the "controversy" takes on a life of its own as a shorthand for this non-existent, but sinister, event.

Liz,

Ah, so *you* don't have to answer questions, only we do.

Fine: Here you go. First, if all I did was "nag" people about poverty, I would expect them to disown me with annoyance long before I bought a Jaguar.

But your question is irrelevant because "nagging" is not what Edwards has done. He's spent years using his training and skills -- expensively acquired -- to fight specific cases of poor people getting screwed over. He's undertaken a very public campaign to urge public policies which will address poverty more systematically. He's doing his darnedest to get elected to public office so he'll be in position to actually introduce some of those policies himself.

If I spent four years doing *those* things, I think my family and friends would recognize my sincere commitment to solving a massive, massive problem, and would not think twice about what kind of car I drive. Because my family and friends would have brains enough to recognize that making *myself* poor would have zero effect on the problem I'm working to address. And that the important thing is *effects*, not optics.

So, I've answered your question. Now I'd love to hear you answer mine.

Liz,
After so many smackdowns one would think you'd give up. Warren Buffet is upset that he pays a lower percentage in taxes than does his secretary. Should he become poor to rectify rhe situation? No, he campaigns against Bush's immoral tax policy. There really are wealthy people out there that would gladly pay more in taxes, knowing that our system is wrong. Some people actually act against their own interests, trying to make things right. Not many of those people are Republicans, however.
yellowdogD

Yes, where are the editors? Written with a co-author and a third contributor, and enough time to check public records--but not call the union. Perhaps that's not surprising: Pension funds own hundreds of millions/billions in hundreds of stocks, usually picked by third party money managers. Pension trustees have a fiduciary duty to pursue losses for their beneficiaries. Any issue the unions have with the Klaassens would not be personal. A fact that pretty much kills the story.

Sound like we have a live one here, folks....Stay on top of it...Hound people at the post anywhere and everywhere....

-

I had no idea (nor do I care) that John Edwards has a Jag. Is it insured? Does it comply with all American safety standards? How much does it pollute? What's its MPG? Imported? What color is it? Does it have XM or Sirius? But the far more important question Liz, is why do you care about such unimportant crap. You've never stated what John Edwards has to do in order for him to be a legitimate poverty advocate.

no I am not a troll. And the reason my view is dominating the thread is that its common sense. Its the way the 95% of voters who don't comment on TPM or dailykos or atrios (all sites that I like very much and commenters are mostly people I like) would see John Edwards.

Maybe not a troll, but surely an egomaniac, if you think you speak for 95% of the voters and that your view is "dominating" here. God, that statement is really quite breathtaking in both its delusion and its self-importance.

Ah, what the fuck. You're a troll, Liz. You should learn to embrace your identity.

Liz clearly is troll, despises John Edwards, and will resort to bizarre "logic" to defend her subjective beliefs.

I'm by no means close to John Edwards in terms of income but I am in the top 10% in the country. I regularly tell people I'm willing to pay more in taxes to support the safety net and other social programs such as student loans. Does that mean I cannot, therefore, buy things for myself? I'm certainly not going to think anything less of anyone making more than me that has the same attitude of shared responsibility regardless of financial security. In fact, I tend to respect the opinions of those who argue against their own self-interests because they are willing to see the big picture.

Liz, you may sincerely think Edwards is a poseur but I suspect you are just parroting anti-Edwards chaff you've heard elsewhere.

Liz said:Its the way the 95% of voters who don't comment on TPM or dailykos or atrios (all sites that I like very much and commenters are mostly people I like) would see John Edwards.

Wow. When you go about making shit up, Liz, you really don't try very hard. You're being 95% absurd. I gave you the benefit of the doubt on that last 5%.

You know, I have issues with Solomon's reporting in the past but I think people are being rather disingenuous about this. If people are going to get hot over Time's Jay Carney for being naive about the US Attorney's getting canned and the maneuvering in Arkansas, then how can we not say that this story, while weak on direct linkages, should not be written or get coverage in the Post?

I think Solomon's story, while weak, is a valid story. However, I would like to see similar stories that border on "you connect the dots" done by the Post and NYT and Time on Bush and Republicans. I don't doubt that the sale/purchase is fishy. Sure, there's no influence now. And the chances of Edwards being elected POTUS in 2008 is slim, but the sale is probably a hedge that he may have power one day.

At this point I doubt Solomon would be the one because it's pretty obvious he's getting fed his "tips" from the RNC but I'm hoping he'll actually write one of his underreported stories but with the gun directed the other direction.

Uh, Liz --

John Edwards was not born into a wealthy family. He worked hard and made his money the old-fashioned way. Isn't this the glorious American dream that the Republicans are always dangling in front of everyone? And now you have a problem with it? Sheesh.

You all are being too tough on Solomon; for I have it on good authority that he dropped from the piece his own findings that the Edwards had left trash out by the garage, including "several beer bottles."

"What would your family and friends say if you nagged them about poverty for 4 years and went out and bought yourself a Jaguar?"

That depends, you moronic troll. Could I then respond by telling them that despite driving my jaguar, I was also named by the Borgen Project, a non-profit group who aims to make poverty reduction a top priority of lawmakers, had named me one of the leading voices for the poor? Could I tell them that I was the honorary chairman and spokesperson for a student led campaign which aims to put an end to poverty? What do you think they'd say to that?

How about doing a little research before polluting threads with your idiotic nonsense. This is the same sort of crap that people tried to throw at Al Gore when they were shocked, SHOCKED I TEll YOU!!, to learn that he actually used modern transportation devices when doing publicity for his global warming movie.

Clearly, Edwards intentionally set out to be born to a lower-income family so that he might some day further his own cynical political goals by laboring for underadvantaged people in his legal / legislative career. Don't you see?!

I have it on good authority that when he Edwards buys beer at the store he gets a nice imported dark beer instead of Budweiser!!!! OMG, what a douche!

Rick James says: "I think Solomon's story, while weak, is a valid story.... I don't doubt that the sale/purchase is fishy."

So, tell me again what is so fishy about the sale/purchase? If John Edwards bought a gallon of milk at the store, and paid the asking price, would that be fishy as well? (If he bought a fish, well, yes, I'd see your point).

Rick James writes:

I don't doubt that the sale/purchase is fishy.

Care to explain your lack of doubt? I don't see anything remotely fishy here. Nor does Solomon's WaPo colleague Jonathan Weisman. Nor frankly does anyone so far as I can tell, except Solomon, Romano, you and Liz (as sowhat pointed out, there may be some double counting on this list).

Liz,

To answer the question for which you feel you haven't gotten an answer...

If I lectured my family on poverty while driving around in a Jaguar, they'd ask me, "Well, what have you done?" And my answer would be a few things, but in the end, not much. I wouldn't have much credibility, you're right.

HOWEVER, the reason your analogy fails is because I am not John Edwards.

Now if John Edwards shows up at my house and "lectures my family on poverty" and they ask, "Well, what have you done?" we'd have to give him 30 minutes to talk about the various policy proposals he's put forth to combat poverty, perhaps including stories about how he was able to create his wealth through his own labor. And how it would be great if everyone had that opportunity. Basically the logic behind the numerous invocations of FDR above that have been ignored.

The real issue that seems to be tripping you up is that idea that wealthy people can't also support programs that help the poor (you've also mentioned that for this Edwards is an opportunist, to which I'd ask you to identify a politician or leader who isn't). You've confused wealth with a lack of credibility on poverty. John Edwards has indeed made this an issue of his, and he's put forth numerous smart proposals to earn that credibility.

Would you really be able to go to a poor person and say, "Look, John Edwards has some objectively good ideas that would help you and millions more have an opportunity as a better life, but we're not going to implement them because we're waiting for that hypocrite to sell his Jag instead"?

This guy already lasted longer at his job at the Post than that RedState.org guy, but he seems to be of about the same caliber.

Seriously, where the hell are the editors? What does no one say "Bring it back to me when you have the story."

Liz, you sound green with envy. What's your income bracket?

Rick James writes:

Sure, there's no influence now. And the chances of Edwards being elected POTUS in 2008 is slim, but the sale is probably a hedge that he may have power one day.

Since when does buying a guy's house -- not to mention, for less than his asking price -- imply he owes you a favor?!? He doesn't owe you anything! You got his house! At a discount!

Rick James, you're stupid.

Ok, now let's seriously look at this. Do people really think Hillary can be a good republican? I don't. If the other candidates who can beat a repub.---ie Edwards (for sure) or Obama (maybe)---are destroyed, Hillary wins the primary. She competes and loses just like Kerry. Think!! There are no better hatchetmen than the stench in the repub hate club.

And on selling the house below asking price. My brother just sold his house in Montgomery county after it was on the market for a year and 3 months at substantially below the asking price. The housing market out east tanked before anywhere else. Edwards was probably happy to get an offer!

Do people really think Hillary can be a good republican?

*Ahem* Well...

Damn typo!

Beat a good republican!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since when does buying a guy's house -- not to mention, for less than his asking price -- imply he owes you a favor?!? He doesn't owe you anything! You got his house! At a discount!

Don't you get it, Ryan? It's all very shady. See, if he sells it for *more* than the asking price, the buyers are trying to curry influence with Edwards. If he sells it for *less* than market value, then these rich folks will owe him a favor down the line. Either way, he's guilty, guilty, guilty!

Edwards should go public thanking Solomon for finally doing some follow-up reporting on the ill begotten wealth of these Claassen cretins, while lampooning the fact that his bias against Democrats and WaPos hair trigger habit of printing his weak Dem hit pieces backfired.

The Klassens anonymous coroporation trick (which it would have been unprofitable AND untoward of him to expose) would have otherwise left the public in the dark that corporate scoundrels raiding nursing home workers livelihoods are out buying 5 million dollar gift houses for their wives!

I don't care what Solomon's "being fed". The WaPo hired him as a reporter. Reporters earn their living by checking their facts and get corroboration, or by making fun of those who don't.

A few minutes on the web, and a couple of background interviews with real estate agents and lawyers, would have disclosed little unusual in the Edwards house sale. Two or three hours time, less than carrying Karl's clubs for nine holes. Solomon's apparent lack of research, and the unsupported inuendo that Mr. Solomon is exposing an insider deal, is all too reminiscent of the style CheneyRove used in Plamegate.

Solomon himself seems to have come up with nothing more than that Mr. Edwards is a wealthy lawyer who made a profit selling his Metro DC house after having owned it for five years and putting a few hundred K into renovating it. Now that makes him an exceptional Metro DC homeowner!

As noted elsewhere, this is pulp for the masses, redmeat for the Base, and grist for the blogosphere. Let's keep our eyes on the pea, not the cups Mr. Rove wants to hide it under.

I'm as cynical as they come, but if this is the best the GOP smear machine can dig up, the guy is squeaky clean.

Obama sounds like Osama. Democrats act like they're in High School.

Well, calling him a "trial lawyer" who takes "class action lawsuits" hasn't worked. So, the next thing is his business deals. Can't talk about the Boys and Girls center! And on Obama, it's more that Osama sound alike. Now what about his middle name made the news? And I saw something while ago about him going to some Muslim school somewhere---that's just like a madrassa right. Which means he's probably a sleeper terrorist!!!! Its always the trickle that becomes the flood!

Rick James, you're stupid.

Yeah, but he's Rick James, bitch!

good point on the mis-use of the word "controversy.' I'm just waiting for the talking heads to pop up on Sunday morning, deeply intoning "....and then of course there is the controversial sale of his house in Georgetown....," even as they pretend to dismiss it.

There may be a different law in DC, but in Kentucky a seller cannot refuse to sell to a legitimate buyer.

Strange, but you can pick up a nice Jag for less than the price of a new minivan. Are minivan owners too hypocritical to care about poverty? How about owner of new pickups ..... or Priuses?

A silly one track thought process.

I would like to see tax laws changed so that people don't unfairly get way ahead just because they hit a few home runs (as lawyers, doctors, Bush scions or otherwise). Progressive income taxes are how we used to keep the playing field half level, and Mr. Edwards seems well inclined to return to such an approach. This will likely reduce his future wealth, and discourage the building of ever more McMansions. Fairly principled for a greedy mansion owner.

Whining because he sold the mansion he already owned, and may have a nice car, is pure nonsense though.

Likewise, you can't own multimillion dollar houses and pretend to be really upset about poverty.

By this 'logic', rich people can't complain about *anything*. When they complain about poor schools, lack aid to African AIDs patients, hell, potholes in the street, brave Liz responds that they are the epitome of hypocrisy because they aren't spending their own money on it.
Liz, if you *ever* complain about *anything* in the *world* that can be fixed with money, then you're a hypocrite by your own standards, since you (I presume) aren't living in a cardboard box.

Point being, no one ever uses this standard to judge anyone, unless they are using it to hide ulterior motives. Like, being a Republican hack pretending to be a Dem on a Dem board, or being a partisan for someone other than Edwards and hoping that as much mud will stick as possible.

Can we drop the "He's so rich because he owns two or three homes" line? Many of the people I know who bought a home in the last few years, owe more to the bank than their homes are worth. Having a hole in the ground into which you can pour money can actually make you poor pretty quickly in the last year or two...

At what point does this sort of so-called reporting cross the line into harassment and libel?

C'mon folks. What Liz is saying is: no national politician running for the office of president should take on povery in America as a national political issue; how can they? Afterall, all of those national political figures are wealthy. Therefore, since all of these wealthy politicians have no legitimate business talking about poverty, the poor in this country are all just shit out of luck! That's about right, isn't it Liz?

This story MAYBE warranted a short ironic paragraph in one of the Post's cutesy roundups of political news. Maybe. Instead it's put on pg 1... I read the story and kept waiting for the coup de grace, the big revelation. There was none, unless you think it's ethically wrong to sell your house below the asking price (note to John Solomon: that is not the same thing as below market value.) Hell, my next-door neighbors wanted $600K for their place, settled for $550K. It's a soft market for everyone.

Unfortunately, right-wing consumers have been trained, by the confusing and interminable discussion of Vince Foster, Whitewater and Monica, to skip over the actual details of transactions such as the Edwards sale of their house. They stop at the idea that where there is smoke there is fire. Just see how far you get in a discussion which questions the evil of the whole thing. It gets as far as discussing the wisdom of the Kyoto treaty.

The more I re-read Liz' comments, the more I'm convinced that what we are seeing is the next attempt at an anti-Edwards narrative: Edwards as cynical opportunist.

I doubt it will stick much like the evil trial lawyer bit didn't work but now is as good a time as any to float this stuff.

"Liz" is clearly doesn't care much about the story at hand itself but rather putting out this (rather illogical) perspective. Her attempts at establishing credibility are lame (Oh, she likes DK and Atrios as well as TPM and she right there with us regarding the hypocrisy of supporting the war but not sending your own family members) and probably aren't backed up with reasonable posts/comments elsewhere. But, whatever. It's clear people aren't buying here.

"The story points to two unions who are fighting with the couple over money their pension funds lost investing in the couple's company: the Service Employees International Union, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union."

Now here is a story for the WaPo to investigate, how are union pension funds are typically invested.

Are their funds invested in more labor friendly companies even if it might mean a lower return? Or are they most interested in getting the biggest return on investment?

For example: Costco pays workers ~$17/hr vs. Sam's Club pays workers less and they have fewer benefits.

If union pension funds invest for the biggest short term return even if it potentially costs their members some jobs long term, then they are hypocrites just like the rest of us.

Hi again. So much for being so bored with my comments. The cable shows ran "Multimillionaire campaigns on poverty" under Edwards when he announced in New Orleans, too. Its just the natural reaction.

Edwards wants to raise taxes on families making $180,000/year to pay for his poverty programs. Most of those people aren't rolling in it like John Edwards and his family are rolling in money. A lot of those families are 2 earner couples working full time, not spending 4 years running for President.

We have a corrupt administration that could probably be collectively prosecuted under federal RICO statutes as an ongoing criminal enterprise, and these are the best stories the Washington Post can come up with?

Why doesn't Solomon pursue a story concerning the circumstances surrounding the apparent mob hit on a South Florida businessman, who claimed that he was defrauded of his controlling interest in Sun Cruises by noted GOP supporter / lobbyist / FOG (Friend of George) Jack Abramoff and his partner?

"Since when does buying a guy's house -- not to mention, for less than his asking price -- imply he owes you a favor?!? He doesn't owe you anything! You got his house! At a discount!"

Rick James, you're stupid.

I am Rick James, bitch!

Christ, you have people have no imagination. Why would Bush fire the USA in Arkansas and put some lackey there? Hmmm... Can you see nothing here as well?

Why would this rich person buy Edwards house? To live in it? To what?!? This is not a question the story answers and it is not much of a story without it.

Duh, the housing market is in the toilet and I think people have figured out a little lesson from Duke Cunningham's tricks. Did Edwards make a profit off the house sale? My guess is yes. But again, what did the buyer buy the house for? Why doesn't the Post answer that?

I probably didn't make my position clear enough. This story was shit. There's not enough meat here to warrant the coverage. However, like the USA's getting axed, although there is no proof of anything nefarious, there's certainly smoke. Sometimes writing about the smoke is all you can do and should be done. I don't agree with the story per se, but I agree that stories like it CAN and SHOULD be done at times.

In John Edwards' 1998 Senate race the R's spent millions pushing the idea he was rich and couldn't be trusted. Since they couldn't find any evidence of wrongdoing, the ads focused on two things. One, he had set up his law practice as a corporation or LLC or something to save taxes. Two, while he claimed he "grew up in North Carolina" the fact was he was born in South Carolina and actually lived there until he was 8 or 9 or something. These facts were intoned in an ominous voice in countless commercials. The NC electorate didn't buy into these ridiculous Republican attack ads in 1998. But obviously this mansion sale fits the "rich and can't be trusted" theme.

Solomon is scum. The source of this garbage is either the Republican hit squad, or Hillary's slime machine. And given Rupert Murdoch's recently developed affection for Hillary, there may not even be a distinction anymore for all we know. In any case, the corporate media thugs will do everything they can to undercut Edwards and Obama, and they will do it with the same substance-free smoke screens, hit jobs, and distractions that they've always used.

And by the way, note that this crap was front page in the Post the day after the Attorney General looked a U.S. Senator in the eye and said that U.S. citizens do not have the right of habeas corpus. Who the hell is editing this crap?

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AHA! Now we know what Liz's prblem is. Her family makes more than 180K a year and she's afraid all her tax cuts won't be made permenant if someone who's not looking out for just the very rich makes it into office. Those tax cuts can buy a lotta egg cups.

... The cable shows ran "Multimillionaire campaigns on poverty" under Edwards when he announced in New Orleans, too. Its just the natural reaction... -- Liz

So, it's Fox "News" natural reaction to air anti-progressive propaganda! Who knew??

BTW Liz, how poor does a politician have to be to be able to legitimately talk about poverty?

So Liz (I guess you proumce that with a long i)...Edwards is wealthy and wants to do somthing about poverty, and Bush and other GOP elites are wealthy and don't care a flying f-k about poor people. That makes Edwards a hypocrite and Bush, et al,, what? Statesmen? Yeah, right...

BTW, we're not bored with you honey. Rank stupidity on display is never boring...

Liz's comment far upthread re Edwards's wealth is still niggling at me.

I'd rather have Edwards, with his positions on poverty, over another rich politician with W's positions. And since all politicians have to be wealthy, at least at the national level, those are the only choices.

But "He had great wealth but lived modestly" has long been a quality we've admired in this country. I do find ostentatious wealth rather repulsive. I grew up in a town that was very well off, but only in recent years has it suddenly started being dotted with bloated 10,000 sq. ft mansions. To me these palaces are an emblem of the growing and appalling gap between rich and poor, and even between the uber-rich and the merely upper-middle-class. A single family owning multiple multi-million dollar homes is very much a part of the picture that Edwards is decrying in this country.

Personal sidelight on this: I work at a prominent Boston public institution, and during the DNC the Edwards requested a tour for their two youngest on a day when we were closed for DNC-associated event hosting. A colleague and I had the privilege of showing them around. I've known my share of bratty rich kids, and given all the craziness and attention--media, secret service detail etc.--that these kids were getting I was very interested in how they would behave. They were absolutely charming. Keenly interested in everything we showed them, asking questions, very engaged, very polite and well mannered. I was very attuned to any indication of that angry sense of entitlement that great wealth can imbue very early on, and there was nothing of that whatsoever. I thought it spoke very highly of the Edwards as parents, fwiw.

Far from being hypocritical, the U.S. has a long tradition of wealthy politicians being among the staunchest advocates for the poor. The only thing that's changed is that this used to be a bipartisan tradition.

Nationally known Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt and Nelson Rockefeller made a lot of rich enemies with their policies. In my state of New Jersey, the Fenwicks and Keans (at least through Tom, Sr.) always emphasized their advocacy for the less fortunate.

Even Ronald Reagan at least talked the talk and visited the South Bronx. Now, the GOP has marginalized the poor into a political foil in much the same way as alleged communists were treated in the 1950s.

Aren't Jags just Fords in drag these days?
Jags are to Fords as Land ROVErs are to Tin LIZzies, and they all just look silly TROLLing for drag races.

Do not expect anything from the Post Ombudstroll Janet Howl. She broke ground for women in the press early in her career, but she gave up whatever journalistic integrity she had to take the job. It's really sad.

Make no mistake, the Post is doing exactly what it wants to do these days. Don't support it. Those in the DC area, tell advertisers you'll double your patronage if they'll stop advertising.

Sylvia - Don't be so quick to accuse union investors of bing hypocrites. The federal government has gone after many of them for just what you are talking about, investing in union friendly stocks or projects for a lower short turn return but long term benefits. They call it not performing your fiducial duties. Unions have to walk a fine line under a republican administration.

And why did the Edwards family need that multimillion dollar home in Georgetown on top of the multimillion dollar beach house and probably at least one more multimillion dollar permanent year round residence? Why did they want that DC multimillion dollar house? TO SHOW OFF. The root of a lot of corruption in politicians: they see too many people like Edwards and his family and they want the same; they're only human.

I do remember reading something another poster mentioned above, that Edwards changed his sole practitioner law firm into a corporation so he could take the money out as dividends rather than salary. The only reason to do that is to avoid FICA taxes. He saved half a million dollars. Has he been decrying his own gaming of the tax system? No. He wants to grind down 2 earner families who don't make as much in a year as he saved on his loopholes.

I don't want to see the Democratic Party sign onto this stuff; hopefully there are enough Democrats who remember how easy it is for the Republicans to run against limousine liberals.

Gee TinLIZzie, if you actually thought, you might think Edwards had a house in DC because he was a US Senator and worked here. Perhaps he's selling now because he is no longer a Senator and is interested in another property in the District.

Even Repubs have local homes, although recently they tend to be exchanging theirs for cells. Since you don't like hippocrites you should be thrilled to see convicted felons go to the slammer.

What do you think about Rove taking a property tax break meant for DC residents because he owned a house here, but voting at a vacation home in Texas that he seldom uses except as his official residence?

Maybe you aren't a TinLIZzie after all, maybe you're really just a Hummer for Karl LandROVEr. Paddy Wagons are to Repubs as Limos are to Liberals.

Poor Liz why are you so jealous that Edwards has more money than you? Both he and his wife have worked hard for their money they were both practicing atty's for decades. Edwards was not "born" into money like Bush and had to work for it. Although I don't think Bush knows to much about a work ethic. The main reason as posted above for Edwards to own a house in the DC area was the fact that he was once a senator. I for one am glad that someone is speaking forcefully about poverty in america. FDR did it before and it should be done again. BTW you never answered the question "how poor does Edwards have to be to be an advocate for the poor?"

I don't like any fishy loopholes. What do you think of Edwards saving himself $591,000 by turning his sole practitioner law firm into a corporation and dodging Medicare taxes? Please answer because I think Edwards should pay it back before he scolds other people that they don't care enough about the poor.

Generosity isn't what you give; its what you have left. Bill Gates is making no personal sacrifice to give away billions. John Edwards is using "poverty" for personal ambition. He made millions off representing those clients. Its ludicrous to say his efforts were generosity; he always intended to make money. We don't praise the guys who pick up the garbage as environmentalists! They're doing it for a pay.

He didn't need a multimillion dollar house to live in DC. Its ostentation.

Liz, by your standards, millions "game" the tax system every year, either by claiming the home mortgage interest deduction by putting money in 401ks and IRAs. If you don't like the tax code, blame the congressmen who put that particular hole there, not the person willing to take advantage of it. I think you'll find the list of people *not* willing to take legal means to lower their tax bill is small enough to count on one hand, with fingers to spare.

Furthermore, why are you holding John Edwards to such a ridiculous standard? He's running for president, not sainthood. FDR ran on an anti-poverty platform and did more to alleviate poverty than any president in our history, and he was born extremely wealthy, and remained extremely wealthy throughout his life. John Edwards came from a poor family and earned his wealth. Yet the only way you'd believe he's sincere is if he spent the campaign in sackcloth and ashes. This is the most ridiculous argument I've read all week.

Liz obviously knows nothing about how sole practitioners in all the professions set up their businesses. The LLC and the limited partnership and the small corporation are standard set-ups for doctors, accountants, engineers, psychiatrists, dentists, and -- gasp! -- even lawyers. The corporate set-up makes it easier for the accountants to deal with wide yearly changes in income and outgo, makes it easier to deal with buying/depreciating/selling all the furniture and equipment and research materials necessary for professional practices, and makes it easier for the government to collect the Medicare taxes (whatever that is) and other tax burden she thinks Edwards is dodging. I'd like to think Liz is just uninformed; but I don't think that. I'd like to think she hasn't been taught to think; but I don't think that. I think she's as dumb as a box of rocks. But that's probably because I make more than $5.25/hour so I am automatically one of those wealthy elitists who don't really have the best interests of the 95% at heart.

The Internal Revenue Service takes a dim view of such operations and "may collapse the structure entirely and argue the S corporation is not truly a separate entity," in the words of Tax Adviser magazine. Attorney CPA magazine lists it as No. 11 of its "15 best underutilized tax loopholes," but warns that the IRS "has successfully litigated cases against individuals, particularly sole shareholders of personal service S corporations, reclassifying such deemed distributions as wages subject to social security taxes."

Yes, I am going to judge John Edwards whether someone likes it or not!

I'm not running for president and don't want to run the world and there are plenty of downright meanspirited ATTACKS - not criticisms - on me on this thread. Who did I criticize? A politician running for president. If some of you saw yourselves as being on the Republican team, you would be equally as defensive about Bush, I have no doubt.

I don't share that view of personal investment in politicians. Edwards is ostentatious about his wealth; that goes to his character. He has gamed the tax code; that goes to his sincerity. Theres nothing wrong with the news media giving the public that information.

I said nothing about S Corporations. An S Corporation and a small corporation are not the same thing. So now I know that Liz isn't dumb, she's just willing to twist others' words and actions to make points she doesn't want to clarify. Very clever, in fact, Liz. Have you been on Rove's payroll for a while or is this a new gig? By your logic, any "Professional Corporation" -- abbreviated as "PC" by professional practitioners -- would have to be "politically correct" -- abbreviated as "PC" by pundits -- or it would be either suspect by the IRS or illegal.

The median annual household income in the U.S. is around $46,000. For anyone household making over $180,000 a year to complain about a moderately higher tax bill is obscene. In the long-run, a society with more income equity would benefit you more than the paltry tax-difference in the short-term.

Moreover, those who have these six-figure incomes yet vote Republican are merely the deluded foot-soldiers in the war of the super-wealthy against us all (including the six-figure earners).

It appears it was an S corporation. Nothing hard about putting "John Edwards gamed Medicare taxes" in a search engine. Heres the first one I got:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/2O30EABTTUSUO

Is $360,000 a reasonable salary? On earnings of $25,000,000 that he actually took and thats what paid for those multiple multi-million dollar houses, not $360,000/yr. Its definitely gaming the system; not comparable to home mortgage deductions! Thats a laugh.

In '92, Ross Perot made many TV appearances where he said that the deficit could be solved if "people who don't need it" would voluntarily give up their Social Security benefits. Then, in the fall, Tim Russert had him on and showed him a table that showed how it would only save $10 billion (with a deficit over $200 billion) if everyone with $40,000 in other income didn't get their Social Security benefits.

I don't understand why anyone would allow themselves to be gulled by some politician who says "I'll tax the rich for these wonderful things I want to do for the country." Those evangelical preachers live in palaces off people who believe slick talk.

Founders of Sunrise Assisted Living had right intentions to make old peoples options better and had a wonderful product and services. Seems as if they have turned into Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker or others.
My brother lived in one of their places and was great when they took it over had went downhill and they kept charging more. Finally we had to take him out of the Sunrise.
Have they become too greedy and hungry for more $ how much do people need? Was this purchase of the Edwards property under this quickly develop LLC to protect their other assets? Some thing a bit Enronish or Bakkerish here.

I'm curious why Liz seems to have changed her tack.

At first her argument was that Edwards cannot be trusted as an advocate for the poor because he is rich. Underlying premise: he has some other agenda hidden by a facade of altruism.

Just how un-wealthy must John Edwards be to be above such suspicion? She's dodged that question several times now. A yearly income of less than $200,000? $100,000? $50,000? $10,000? Is it the type of car he drives, what? And why are those markers significant?

Abandoning that line, she's devolved her argument into the more vague charge that he is ostentatious in his wealth and profiting from current tax law.

As someone else said, he's not trying to be a saint. He's not asking how a rich man can get into the kindom of heaven.

It's an interesting argument, that personal wealth and having the desire and means to help the poor, are mutually exclusive, but Liz refuses to provide any support for it.

Sez Liz:
Likewise, you can't own multimillion dollar houses and pretend to be really upset about poverty.

Besides, there's all kinds of upset. There's the upset that you soothe with shopping for useless knick-knacks and there's the upset you remedy by changing the world. Maybe there's a very good and close to home reason for Liz's cynicism.

Not all the wealthy people on earth are members of the parasite class.

Dodging the question is a tactic of the hard right. All they want to do is ask questions but never answer them. If they do answer them they answer in very vague terms or they change the subject as Liz did. I'm not surprised that Liz hasn't answered the question put to her several times as she has no viable answer as to how poor someone has to be to advocate for the poor.

It's true that the Post and to a large extent the Daily News have become the equivalent of the Start and Enquirer of NY newspapers (same owner...?). The reporting behind the usually pandering, gossipy inaccurate, "working stiff" articles is shoddy and thin. Reporters there are in the business of providing anti-liberal sound bytes and nothing else. (This exact same opinion was related to me by an employee of the Post as well).

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And thus has "Liz" corrupted a string about the Post's mendacity into an a discussion of John Edwards' too-large wealth. Stop feeding trolls, people.

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